MPA Newsletter Celebrating 40 Years of Public Service Winter 2015 Inside this issue: 40th Anniversary of the MPA program ASPA Award to WKU Student 1 2 Graduation 2014 2 More 40th Pics 3 UAE Celebration 4 KCCMA Annual Conference Recent Internship Placements 4 4 On November 7, 2014, faculty, students, alumni and friends of the WKU MPA program gathered at the Augenstein Alumni Center to celebrate the MPA program s 40 years of service to the public. About 100 people were in attendance. Among the guests honored at the event were the late Dr. Carl Chelf, Dr. John Parker, Dr. Joe Uveges, Dr. John Petersen, Dr. Ray Cravens and Dr. James Chappell. One of the highlights of the evening was remarks made by WKU President, Dr. Gary Ransdell who is a graduate of the Master of Public Service program. Pictured below are current students and alumni that were in attendance. More photos can be found throughout the newsletter. Faculty News 5 Alumni News 5 Mark your Calendars 6 Summer 2014 Grads 6
Page 2 MPA Newsletter MPA Student Abdul Samad Selected as 2015 ASPA Founders Fellow Abdul Samad was selected as one of the 2015 American Society for Public Administration Founders Fellow. As a scholarship recipient, Abdul will receive financial support to attend the annual ASPA conference in Chicago, Illinois, in March. He has also been invited to present his research at the annual conference. Abdul will be assigned a career mentor who will commit to working with Abdul through March of 2016. Abdul was selected because of his career potential in public administration. Congrats Abdul! Two International Students Graduate in December 2014: Ploypraewa Supakkawanich and Pavadee Kaewchiengtai
MPA Newsletter Page 3 MPA Advisory Members visit with current students and alumni at 40th Anniversary Celebration of the MPA program Top Left: Kevin DeFebbo, BG City Manager and Lorraine Baushke Bottom Left: Rodney Kirtley, Executive Director, BRADD Right: Dr. Saundra Ardrey with Dr. James Chappell honored for his service at WKU as MPA Director Faculty Notes Dr. Gordon, who was awarded a research stipend by The IBM Center for the Business of Government for her research project on the use of social media in the participatory budgeting process, has completed this project. The complete report can be found online at http://www.businessofgovernment.org/report/ participatory-budgeting-ten-actions-engagecitizens-social-media Dr. Gordon was recently interviewed by Michael Keegan. The Business of Government Hour radio program was aired on December 22, 2014, on Federal News Radio 1500-AM and on CBS Radio 1580-AM in Washington D.C. The podcast can be downloaded at http:// www.businessofgovernment.org/. Dr. Gordon will attend the KCCMA conference in February and present her research to Kentucky City and County Managers.
Page 4 MPA Newsletter MPA Students Celebrate 43rd Anniversary of the Formation of the UAE MPA students, faculty and staff from across campus gathered at the Political Science offices on December 2nd to celebrate the 43rd anniversary of the formation of the UAE. There was good food, great company, and an informative program, along with an informal presentation of cultural traditions that occur on this date of national celebration each year in the UAE. PCAL Dean David Lee attended the event. ******************************************************************************************* MPA Student, Richard Green, was selected to attend the KCCMA Annual Conference in Frankfort, Kentucky in early February. Scholarships to attend the conference are provided to students, and selections are based on the student s interest in local government management. Recent Internship Placements Simone Smith and Abdul Samad were both asked to stay on at the BRADD and to continue just a little longer in their internships.
MPA Newsletter Page 5 Faculty News Dr. Shannon Vaughan and Dr. Shelly Arsneault (former faculty member at WKU) presented research paper at NASPAA conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in November 2014. Both Dr. Vaughan and Dr. Boden attended the NASPAA conference. ************************************ Dr. Dan Boden will serve as the Political Science department representative on the Graduate Recruiting Council. The Council will oversee recruitment efforts Alumni News Recent MPA grad, Diane Kelley was promoted and is now Director of the Hardin County Adult Education program. Diane is pictured with recent grads Becky Gibas and Polly Supakkawanich. Recent MPA grads, Jaclyn Stewart and Scott Wolfe were hired by the Tennessee State Auditor s Office. Sarah Van Alebeek, also a grad of the MPA program, has accepted a position at ESLI. She will be the Coordinator for Institutional Advancement. MPA grad, Tanja Bibbs, is now the Assistant Director of Distance Learning at WKU and will be pursuing a doctoral degree at UK. Congrats to all!
Page 6 Celebrating 40 years of public service! Pictured below are Dr. Jeff Kash and Dr. James Chappell. (left) and Dr. and Mrs. Joe Uveges (right). Enter to Learn. Depart to Serve. The MPA Program would like to hear from you. Please email Dr. Gordon and tell her your news both personal and professional. Mark Your Calendars! February 12-13, 2015 Kentucky City/County Manager s Association Annual Conference, Frankfort, KY March 6-10, 2015 ASPA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL Saturday, April 18, 2015 Comp Exam in Bowling Green! List of MPA Graduates Summer 2014 Mohmmed Aldaghri Cheryl Chandler Cheng Cheng Amy Gambrel Tim Gilliam Lindsey Gilmore Sarah Holley Joe Howard Stacey Howell Phil Padron Daniel White MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM 1906 College Heights Blvd Bowling Green, KY 42101 Phone: 270-745-6192 Fax: 270-745-2945 E-mail: victoria.gordon@wku.edu